When I purchased my car I was told it was a 90 (bought it from a dealership from the back/used lot). The sticker on the door says it was manufactured in 12/89, so I assume that it truly is a 90.

I recently put my car up for sale on craigslist, including pictures of the motor, and received an e-mail telling me that the intake on my car was from an 86-88. Is this true?

 

Yep, that motor is from a 86-88, however it is intresting that you have a 89-91 710 cap on it, a 89+ engine speed power steering pump, a 89+ alternator and a 89-91 water pump and pump housing.

I would suspect that someone blew the old motor, swapped many of the 89 parts over onto a 86-88 motor, and sold the car.

 

I didn't figure all of those could be frankensteined together. Very odd. Makes me glad that I'm getting rid of it, I guess. I'll always have a place in my heart for the rotaries, though!

 

Thats a very odd combination... you think that the PO would keep the S5 intake on it if he already had it, especially since it already has all the sensors etc that would work with the ECU & wiring already in the car. I dont see the value in retaining the S4 intake. Also, it looks like the fan is an 8-blade (s4) instead of a 10-blade (s5), altho it's hard to tell by the picture.

 

Because the entire S5 manifold does not fit the S4 motor unless there are minor modifcations done such as filling in a couple spots where the manifold meets the block.